PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Roughly 52,000 public school students take SEPTA to get to and from classes. The ongoing funding stalemate is understandably unsettling for them and their parents.

"We are going to do everything humanly possible to support parents and think about carpools, other workarounds with them to the extent that we can," Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington said.

RELATED: Gridlock continues over SEPTA funding, with no solution in sight

Philadelphia School teachers return to work August 18.

The school year begins August 25 -- a day after phase one of those looming SEPTA cuts kicks in.

Adding to concerns, educators could be on strike on August 31.

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers provided an update on contract negotiations on Wednesday, where officials said they have not reached an agreement yet with the School District of Philadelphia.

"We are making some progress on some issues," PFT President Arthur Steinberg.

He said issues still at the top of the page is wages.

"Wages and salaries are important for a number of reasons, beyond the fact that people need to feed their families. We all know what's going on with inflation and prices right now anyways," Steinberg said. "We are also in the midst of a severe teacher, and really educator shortage across the commonwealth, the nation and now particularly being felt in the Philadelphia area. So if you want to be competitive in recruiting staff members and now, for the first time, retaining them, your wages have to be on par."

Some other priorities include addressing building issues.

"After all, our kids learning conditions are the same as our working conditions. So, any improvement we can make there helps the kids of the School District of Philadelphia," Steinberg said.

Action News is working to reach out the school district for comment.